There’s a lot of really, really bad copy floating around out there. More than ever before. And yet — every once in a while — you stumble across a piece that… well… transcends the genre.
It defies description. I found this on a company Web site — one with an impressive client list. It’s just that I can’t figure out what they do, or how they do it. It’s simultaneously hilarious and horrifying:
Dynamic, adaptive strategy that guides creative, thoughtful decision making in the changing world of the 21st Century is achievable. But it requires a new, non-traditional and creative planning process.
- Providing creative experiences that bring in new insights, move strategic thinking into areas of Deep Innovation and shape industry/field-changing new models.
- Utilizing “abductive”, design/envisioning approaches that evolve, enrich and transcend the inductive and deductive approaches to scenario development.
- Strategically applying high-opportunity “Emergent” strategy development to accelerate and magnify the value of “Deliberate” long range strategic planning.
- Applying the ***** proprietary Visual Strategic Thinking and Mapping System that enables planning teams to extend their repertoire of strategic thinking options, open up breakthrough ideas, and then channel their ideas into a coherent and effective communication of the strategic story.
- Nurturing broad based support for the strategy through a co-creative process that gains understanding and commitment throughout the organization.
I’m dubbing it “stream of consciousness meets passive voice.” And yes, you (and your brand new headache) may now return to your everyday life.
Technorati Tags: copywriting,writing,what the?
I woke up briefly at the new post… and then started snoozing again. Bad content is bad content, and these people have it down pat.
I mean, it’s good but… snoooore…
Deep Innovation? Sounds like a disaster movie…
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
Wow. That was, um, special…
Talk about a great example of how *not* to write!
Just how do you get to Deep Innovation? Plane or boat?
[...] Today’s Exercise in Copy-Based Mind Control (or, A Dollar to the … [...]
I only understand it because I have a Master’s degree in organizational change. This is the sort of theoretical nonsense the field is buried in. It’s also why I chose to avoid the management consulting field and become a writer. Writing is much more fun and much less headache-inducing!
This is the kind of barfola I edit every day. I have to try to make sense of it and then translate it into the real world. Love your site. I’ve subscribed to it.
I knew my readers would love it. Sadly, it’s the genetic twin of a piece I wrote more than ten years ago for a client. It’s not where we started, but with the help of constant “input” from the client, it’s where we ended up.
Strangely, it didn’t make my samples book.
Perhaps it’s klingon for “make big bucks fast!”
Beam me up, scotty – if you know what I mean.
Yes, but what do they actually do? Beats me.
A website is like a wedding reception. It’s about you, celebrates you but it’s designed (or should be) for the comfort and enjoyment of your guests!
Didn’t make your portfolio, Tom? I can’t imagine why. So many corporate clients love this kinda mish-mash, self-congratulatory love.
[...] think he&39d hit a good bid, …Opinion: AOL&39s great day at the office TechRadar.comwww.news.comToday??s Exercise in Copy-Based Mind Control or, A Dollar to the First Person Who Figures Out What T… There??s a lot of really, really bad copy floating around out there. More than ever before. And yet [...]
Roberta: Yeah, it beats me too, and I know what they do.
The client list is impressive, so perhaps they’re better in person.
Whoever wrote it has skimmed the book Consilience by E.O. Wilson, and various evolution blogs. Hence, abductive reasoning, and emergent strategies. But…you can’t plan for “emergence,” since it’s unforseen by definition.
Overall, it’s a well-tossed word salad that relies more on rhythm than sense.
Situation Normal
Truly amazing in a head-scratching sort of way.
Reminds me of this gem of a show review recently shared from within the music industry, which is more my writing stomping ground. Ironically, I was at this show, and still can’t grasp what’s being said.
http://www.times-standard.com/entertainment/ci_8389566?source=email
This ain’t your grand-daddy’s hippie jam band
In the ensuing discussion about this review, someone summed it up as this:
West coast speak.
Translation -> “I liked the show; it was fun and a good time was had by all.”
I do like the review’s title…
Firm but neutral business dialogue makes me all warm and fuzzy.
Tom,
That was what I call “thick” copy.
It was too thick to wade through.
I am almost sweating after reading that :).
Joseph Ratliff
Ugh. I just had a flashback to some editing work I once did in the softare industry. This is deadly.
Of course, the irony that just made a typo in the word “software” is not lost on me. :)